PEOPLE who regularly use vapes are warned about toxins that can hide in popular taste.
Millions of people in the UK are evaporating and this is becoming a cheaper alternative to smoking cigarettes.
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Vaping is popular in the United Kingdom and the United States and has been hailed by the NHS as one that you can quit smokingCredit: Getty – Contributor
Vapes and e-cigarettes have helped millions of people quit smoking, and the NHS says they can help you manage your nicotine cravings.
An earlier government report in the United Kingdom found that e-cigarettes were about 95% less harmful than tobacco products.
Scientists have now warned that people who choose menthol or mint flavors may be at risk of poisoning.
Experts from Duke University School of Medicine have found that manufacturers use synthetic agents in some products.
In particular, they found that WS-3 and WS-23 agents were included in vape fluids at higher levels than the World Health Organization (WHO) considered safe.
Many suppliers have chosen to make inserts that have the same cooling effect as menthol cigarettes – but without the mint flavor.
As part of their study, medics looked at popular brands that use a cartridge change system.
They used sophisticated technology to separate electronic fluids and synthetic coolants.
They then looked at the exposure limit (MOE) to determine how high the risk of using synthetic coolants in e-cigarettes was.
Of the 25 rechargeable e-liquids they tested, 24 had WS-3.
These synthetic refrigerants are not only found in menthol and mint products, but are also present in fruits, candies and many other sweet flavors that are popular and attract younger vape consumers.
The researchers said: “When the MOE is below 100, regulators such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or the WHO should review product safety and advise manufacturers on steps to make the product safe to use.
“Our measurements and calculations show that e-cigarette users inhale WS-3 and WS-23 at levels higher than those considered safe by the WHO, with the potential to cause organ toxicity.
Organ toxicity can be fatal, as it can affect circulatory changes, which can lead to cell poisoning.
The experts added that regulators should consider reviewing the Puffbar products they have tested.
This, they said, is due to the fact that these two chemicals can be used as food additives, but are not safe to inhale.
Researchers added that manufacturers “fly blind” when they add such chemicals to their products.
Other medics have also previously warned about the dangers of e-cigarettes.
Researchers in California said popular e-cigarettes could “trigger dangerous damage to the brain and heart.”
Evaporation is also thought to be as bad as cigarettes to reduce blood vessel function.
In the United States, the FDA has issued a proposal to ban the sale of menthol cigarettes, as well as all flavored cigars and tobacco products.
The ban will not affect menthol e-cigarettes, but may affect the sale of other products, such as tobacco heaters or cigarettes with very low nicotine levels.
Menthol cigarettes are also banned in the UK as part of the European Union’s (EU) initiative to protect people from the harmful effects of tobacco.
The Sun contacted Puffbar.
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